With wood you can bring nature into your own four walls - the material creates a homely ambience, gives the interior warmth and comfort and ensures a healthy indoor climate. Perhaps that's why furnishing with solid wood furniture has become very popular in recent years. But be careful – not every piece of furniture made of wood is considered solid. You can find out what the term actually means and how you can recognize high-quality furniture without harmful substances in the article.
The term “solid wood furniture” (also called solid wood furniture) is expressly regulated in the DIN standard 68871. Pieces of furniture that are not veneered and are made entirely of solid wood except for the drawer bottoms and back are considered solid wood furniture. Individual, invisible construction parts may be made from softwood.
Solid wood / solid wood / itself is carved from the cross section of a tree trunk - the milled slats and rods are first stored and dried and then further processed into glued wood panels. Both chemical and mechanical treatment are excluded. The most important advantage of this processing is that it makes the natural materialproven its properties.
In contrast, plywood, MDF and fiberboard are made from shredded pieces of wood. The natural material therefore changes its properties - which is why they are marked as wood materials and not as solid wood.
– Solid wood breathes and regulates the humidity in the room;
– Solid wood contains no harmful substances, repels dust and is therefore a good choice for allergy sufferers;
– Solid wood furniture is extremely robust and durable;
– Some solid woods such as pine have a very pleasant resinous scent;
Even if the furniture is manufactured according to DIN standard 68871, this does not automatically mean that it also meets other quality standards and sustainability principles. These criteria should therefore play a role when choosing furniture:
– Sustainability – does the wood come from certified forestry? Renowned retailers attach great importance to this.
– Free of harmful substances – is the furniture (including accessories such as mattresses and upholstery) really tested and free of harmful substances?
– How is the wooden surface treated – is it sealed or do the manufacturers recommend treating it with wax and oil (the second variant is actually advantageous because it allows the wood to breathe)
The pieces of furniture can serve a lifetime if properly cared for. And this should start from the first day - first the furniture must be placed in a dry, well-ventilated room for 24 hours. Then arrange the furniture in the living area/sleeping area so that each piece of furniture is evenly exposed to the sun's rays - this prevents irregular discoloration from occurring. Everyday cleaning is extremely simple - wipe the furniture with a dry cloth, remove stains with wood soap.
